By Rick Assad
It’s over as far as the regular season is concerned, but the Burroughs High and Burbank girls’ volleyball teams are now hoping to qualify for the CIF Southern Section playoffs.
For the Bears (16-14 and 3-5 for fourth place in the Arroyo League), it’s now in the hands of the CIF selection committee while the Bulldogs (14-17-2 and 8-2 for second place in the Crest League) will go based on their league record.
On Wednesday night, the host Bears sideswiped the Bulldogs 25-20, 25-17, 25-13 in a Rio-Pacific Conference match behind a balanced offensive attack.
Burroughs is coached by Edwin Real, and he thought his team played with spirit and determination as did Burbank.
“We passed well and our hitters found ways to get the kill, but the difference was our passing and the finish,” he said. “Burbank played well and had a few good hits out of the middle and outside.”
Real is hopeful his team will make the postseason.
“The playoffs are in the hands of the CIF,” he said. “I think we deserve to be in but we still have our fingers crossed to get in.”
Junior outside hitter Amelia Walsh’s service ace in the third game made it 4-2 in favor of the Bears but the Bulldogs ripped off a 5-2 spurt and led 7-6 on a spike from middle blocker Gabriella Jarrah.
An ace from senior setter Victoria Acevedo made it 9-7 and another service winner from Acevedo (16 assists) made it 11-7 in favor of the Bears.
A tapper from senior middle blocker Zoe Davis (four kills) extended the margin to 12-8.
Junior defensive specialist Aaliyah Shnn’s service winner saw Burroughs pull in front 13-8 and a winner from Walsh made it 14-8.
When junior opposite hitter Alex Hammeke tossed in a laser the margin was 16-10 in favor of the Bears.
Senior outside hitter Trinity Taylan’s ace made it 19-12 and senior opposite hitter Paige Rowan’s dagger made it 21-13.
Shinn’s winner made it 21-13 and a Davis tapper saw the hosts dash ahead 23-13.
Hammeke’s service ace made it 24-13 and an ace from senior outside hitter Alina Abrahamian (four spikes) cemented the set and match.
Senior opposite hitter Hailey Collins delivered five kills for the Bears.
Burbank’s best set was the second as the Bulldogs came out and led 4-3 on sophomore outside hitter/opposite hitter Samantha Yosh (three kills and two aces) spike and Yosh added a kill that made it 7-3.
When sophomore outside hitter Emerson Chong (team-best seven kills) contributed a kill for the Bulldogs it became 8-3 and junior libero Mona Gasparyan’s kill made it 10-5. In time the Bulldogs would lead 12-6 on a kill from Jarrah.
Sabrina Sullivan is in her first year as Burbank’s head coach and she was proud of her team.
“We served really well today. We were able to hit our targets and keep them out of system,” she stated. “Overall, a great matchup since the last time we saw them.”
The momentum shifted to the Bears who tied it at 13-13 on a kill from Taylan (match-best nine spikes).
Consecutive winners from Acevedo made it 15-13 and 16-13 and a kill from junior middle blocker Madeline Bixler made it 18-13.
Taylan had back-to-back kills that made it 22-14 and 23-14 and Bixler’s winner made it 24-15. Shinn’s kill sealed the game and two games to none advantage.
In the first game, the Bears led 4-2 on a kill from Davis and a winner from Davis tied it at 6-6.
When Davis added an ace, Burroughs pulled ahead 8-6 and another service winner by Davis made it 9-6.
Acevedo’s ace saw the advantage become 13-7 and a kill from senior defensive specialist Joanna Brain extended the lead to 15-9 as Burbank asked for a stoppage in play. A service ace by senior defensive specialist Emma De Cunzo Steinglass made it 17-10.
A block from Yosh sliced the lead to 17-11 but a block from Davis made it 20-13. Rowan’s stuff made it 22-16.
Gasparyan’s service winner trimmed the margin to 23-18 but a kill from senior opposite hitter Amanda Meserve clinched the set for the Bears.
Senior Madison Yosh added two kills and two aces for the Bulldogs and junior opposite hitter/middle blocker Natalie Eguiazarian chipped in with four blocks.
